Metal-wheel-tire expander



April 24, 1928.

c. B. CHANDLER METAL WHEEL TIRE EXPANDER Filed March 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gi M By T95.

April 24, 1928. 1,667,509

c. B. CHANDLER METAL WHEEL TIRE EXPANDER Filed March 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i M l F Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

" UNITED STATES AT GFFl-CEL] oAmi Ba earn rs-e, or HAVANA; I LINOIS.

Membrane-Emma ExrANnER.

' r eater and Mi'rai- 29, i923. swarm. 628,526.

in connection with tlie tiresot metal wheels, Another object of my invention is in the simplicity of structure utilized whereby a multiplicity of parts is obviated and an i D I I v I that one ofthe metho'dsot applyingthe demo' tab1e rim and rubber" tire to the rim efficiently operating device results.

A further objectis: in theiprovision of a device that is incorporated in a metal rim for expanding samewithinthe conventional ru bbertire andrim and thereby permitting ready removal and. replacementthereof.

Other objects of my. invention will appear in the following specification in connection with the annexed drawings.

Figure 1 is a side [elevation of a metal:

wheel having mounted in connection therewith my rim expanding dei ice.

Figure 2 is aside elevation, with some parts shown in section, of my expander in its normal position. F

Figure 3 is a similar view ofmy'device in its extended or expanded position.

Figurest and 5 are enlarged perspective views of the lever members. I

Figureb is a perspective view. of. the T head bolt shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively.

Figure 7 is a planview of my' device its expanded position as shown in Figure 3 bringing out clearly its relation to the rim. p I I Figure 8 is aplan viewf of the section of the rim adaptedyto receive theexpanding device. i V

Figures 9 1O and11have been included to sliowa modification of. my device wherein a flat headed bolt" is used instead of a tapered.

one.

device is mainly adapted to be used in connection with steel wheels which carry thereon heavy solid rubber tires. In Figure l I refer to the wheel generally as 10 which includes a hub portion 11, spokes 12 and rim 13. The spokes are attached to' the rim by any well known means (not shown) this not being included in any way within the scope of this invention. The rim is split at 1 1, this being shown clearly in Figures 7 and. 8. Ri'mf mayKa'lso bejsplit in two or more place's wheren'ecessary to distribute 1 the expanding effect of my device through the use of two or more devi'c'es. Encl'rcling the rim is the demo'untable rim 15 which carries the conventional solid'rubber" tire 16. To more clearlybringj out' the practical use of my expanding device lfniight' say be readily inserted. within the rim of the rubber tire and a consequent expansion of myfdevijce pern'iitsthe'rim to be forced tog t 'fi m yi The manufacture of these steel wheels to which my device is mainly applicable does not always result in exact uniformity of size. My deviceisdesigned to operate withinsuch a degree as tot-eke care of anyo'rdinary discrepancy; "The wheel should" be made with a suificientlyjlarge tolerance in diameter tofass lil its being sma'll'enou'gh to pass inside of't'he rim and rubber tire, and any. excessive loosene'ss the contact 7 between said wheel and rim may; be compensated for by the in'se rt'i onof a shim of, metal or other suitableL nateri'a'lbetween thewheel and rim. If inv tightening the nut of my expanding device 1t is apparent that the levers cannot be forced to theircomplete seated position as shown inrigmea because the amount of expansion afforded ex cessive,.the ends of the levers may be quickly ground ofi'l sufiiciently to reduce the expansive movement to the proper amount.

p Referring to igure 2, 'I havesho'wii my rim expander in itsnormal or rather unexpanded position. "A: tapered bolt 16' ismserted through an opening 17 made in the rim 13, this opening conforming with the shape of the head of the bolt and made as shown in Figur'e S at a point intermediate the split in the said rim 13, the result being that an expansion of the rim 13 produces a similar enlargement of the bolt opening. Again in Figure '8 are shown the lever holes 18 and 19 which are made at equal distances from the main bolt hole 17. On the threaded,

end of the bolt is a hexagonal nut 20 and disposed thereunder a lock washer21 and a plain washer 22. The two levers or fulcrums 24 and 28, shown in detail fin-Figures l and 5 have at their bolt ends the cut out portions 26, adapted to completely surround the body portion of the bolt, with their ends abutting on each side of the bolt, and also having able rim have been placed about the steel wheel or rim 13 and it is now desired to clamp them firmly together. This result is obtained by merely tightening the hexagonal nut upon the bolt 16 with the result that continual depression of the nut'gradnally forces the inner ends of the levers outwardly, thereby expanding the outer ends with the resultant expansion of the rim 13.

This expansion of the rim is shown clearly in Figure 3. Again in this expanded position the outer edges of the lugs 26 now coincide with the tapered edges of the openings 18 and 19, and there is provided an immovablewedge between the opposed ends of the rim. Also in Figure 3 it may be seen that the bolt hole has been considerably enlarged. However, the fact that the head of said bolt is tapered prevents its withdrawal from the rim by the subsequent tightening of the hexagonal nut on the bolt.

'1 have described the clamping of the rubber tire and demountable rim upon the rim 13, but my device haajust as much utility in removing'the demountable rim from the rim thereof. A special machine is usually used in this operation, but with my present expander, merely a release of the levers by the unscrewing of the nut permits the rubber tire rim to be quickly removed from the rim 13.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have shown a modification of my device wherein a flat headed bolt .28 is used instead of a tapered one. There is no marked difference in the;

operation or structure of the device other than that the shape of-the bolt head and the form of the bolt opening 29 is changed.

lVhat I claim is: 3

1. A device for expanding, the steel felloe of a wheel into a demountable tire rim comprising a spilt steel felloe having the sections of its opposed end portions adapted to receive the head of abolt, lever members, the ends of said levers being in abutting relation and curved to provide a rocking engagement with each other, the opposite ends of said lever members having means for engagement with the felloe, and aunt on the bolt to eifect the proper spacing of the last mentioned means by engaging the adjacent ends of the levers. Y

, 2. A device for expanding the steel felloe of a wheel into a demountable tire rim comprising a split steel felloe having the sections of its opposed end portions tapered to receive the tapered head of a bolt and having apertures at similarly spaced distances from each end portion adapted to serve as lug seats, means for relatively spacing said end portions comprising a'bolt having a tapered head portion, lever members each having one end thereof provided with seat for operative connection with said bolt, lugs projecting at an angle to said lever members at the opposite end thereof, said lugs being adapted to enter said lug seats, and a nut on the bolt for effecting adjustment of the lever members.

3. A device for-expanding the steel felloe of a wheel into a demountable tire rim comprising a split steel felloe having the sections of its opposed end portions adapted to receive the head of a bolt and having lug seats, means for spacing said end portions relatively to each other con'iprising'a' bolt,

' lever members each having one end thereof provided with seat for operative connection with said bolt, said end being curved to provide a rocking abutment with the oth'ei lever member, lugs projecting from said lever members, said lugs being adapted to engage said lug seats, and a nut on the bolt to effect the proper spacing ofthe lugs by engaging the adjacent ends of the levers; I

In testimony whereof I arlix my signature.

CARL CHANDLER; 

